Ihab (also romanized as Ehab) is an Arabic masculine given name meaning "gift". It derives from the Arabic root wahaba (وهب), meaning "to give", and reflects the cultural importance of bestowing names that express gratitude or divine blessing.
Notable Bearers
Several notable individuals have borne the name Ihab across diverse fields. Ihab Hassan (1925–2015) was an Egyptian-born American literary theorist who contributed significantly to postmodernist criticism. Ihab Al-Sherif (1954–2005), an Egyptian diplomat, served as ambassador to Iraq before being kidnapped and murdered in 2005. Ihab al-Ghussein (1979–2024) was a spokesperson for the Hamas-led Interior Ministry in Gaza. In sports, Ihab El-Masry (born 1985) is an Egyptian footballer. Other bearers include computer scientist Ihab Ilyas, Syrian executive Ihab Makhlouf, and Ihab Shoukri, a Northern Irish paramilitary member.
Cultural and Linguistic Context
The name is common in Arabic-speaking countries where names conveying positive attributes are favored. The root wahaba also appears in the related name Wahib và in the verb form yahabu. Variant spellings include Ehab, used mostly in North Africa and the Middle East.
- Meaning: Gift
- Origin: Arabic root wahaba (وهب)
- Type: Given name
- Usage regions: Arab world
- Variant: Ehab
Variants
Sources: Wikipedia — Ihab